"Miles to go before I sleep...."
Great lines by Robert Frost, and also a line often used,
Now I'm going to use it yet again, but let me be a little more specific, Miles to go before I sleep, on 2 wheels.

As of till today I have done 18k+ kms on my bike (Bajaj 220 DTS-i) over a period of 7 months.
Well this stat raised a lot of eyebrows, astonishment and critic among my near and dear. They say that I ride too much and that 2 wheelers are not meant for this kind of usage. I got the very much Indian commuterish kinda advices and response from them.
But I just couldn't understand them or maybe I din't want to, riding just gave me a completely whole different feeling, an independent feeling, so intense that i could not explain it out to them. Because when I'm riding it is truely who I am. But wait...Had i done any tours on my bike ? NO !!!!!!
Well yeah, I hadnt, not that i dint want to but I had no other choice, well the main reasons
1. I was a student ( well, I hear that a lot)
2. Biking was declared dangerous by my parents

It wasn't until I finished 12k kms that I got my first touring experience. In my locality biking still has some serious stages of development to go on with. Serious biking is still a mystery to people here. I have to take my bike 50 kms to trichur from my hometown pattambi for service cause the guys here don't know how to properly handle the 220.
My parents are not at all attracted to two wheels as a form of transport. . They find all the reasons in this world to point it out. The accident stats, advices, etc etc. Lets not get into that now.

So I had been longing for a long ride on my bike , but the above reasons prevented me to do so. So the only option I had was to keep my planning secret, as I would never get a go from my parents. So the planning began. 6 bikes,6 riders,6 pillons. 1 day trip and a trip of 220kms :cool ( That was purely a coincident, but anyways i liked it )
Destination : Athirapally
Distance : 110 kms ( from home)
Bike ued : Bajaj Pulser 220


Bikes on tour : 2 220's, 1 Dazzler, 2 Passion plus, 1 Glamour


So we set out on a fine day morning at 6.30am. It was rainy season and we had to worry, but we were lucky to have gotten away with just a light drizzle. The morning condition was perfect to ride on, except the roads that was a hindrance, after a few more miles frmo trichur got onto the cochin highway. Now started the real tour, super smooth roads, long lanes. For a guy like me comparing to the usual tarmac i get it was heaven. Took the bike to the fastest i could dare, just touched of 120 km/h. Mind you, I was riding with a pillion and had the added responsibility of his life in my hands.

So from there on it was just super smooth roads. After about nearly 1 hour riding we hit the curves. Oh boy oh boy..I still get goosebumps thinking about those curves. Its heaven for bikers. Would love to go there any day. Could not take much quality pictures. But ill share the ones that I have with you. Since time was limited had to make a quick trip.
Had to reach back home before nightfall.

So after exiting from the highway started the real interesting ride, super smooth roads and curves inviting for a knee down cornering, but im not so experinced enough to do such a perfect cornering and i had a pillion too so dint risk it.



Took a small break on reaching the amusement park 'Dream world'. Took a few snaps and headed on.



The next stop was in front of an another river project site, also had a nice garden there but since the lack of time could get it.



Then even between the numerous curves once in a while got lavish strech of straights which was a pleasure to ride on. I had to say I was enjoying my maiden tour and was a group riding so it was just getting better with each passing minute of riding.

Our group:


And my pillion (Sreejith)was the main photographer and also a great pillion, he is also my best friend. Whenever , whereever I go on a bike , he's also there with me, but he doesnt know how to ride a bike. So i get to do all the riding.

Sreejith:



And upon reaching athirapally we stopped for lunch, had a heavy one since we werent planning for another stop for food. It was fun. After filled stomach and lighter wallets we visited the athirapally falls. The place where many scenes from 'Raavan' was shot.
he downhill desend and the upward climb was exhausting. All the food we had was properly burned up by our bodies.






Then we headed further into athirapally, reached the chekpost, got the bad news that we had to return before 5.3 o pm else we can not get past as they closr the checkpost due to risk of wildlife activity increases during night time. So had to shorten the trip. Paid a visit to the dam nearby and started our return journey


The return journey was also very much fun. But dint take much photos as had to reach home before nightfall , i havent told my parents about this trip . Not even now, 4 months after the trip.
Stopped at a place to have tea. Was fun. All 12 of us having tea, looking at a great site.



By the time i hit the highway back to trichur the trafiic had increased , reached home by 7.15 PM.

It was one hell of a trip. Now i know what its like and im sure more such trips are in the kitty. Those ofcourse with proper sanction from parents. Dont feel like cheating them again. Once was enough.
So I'm concluding here.

A few more pics from the trip.











P.S: Sorry for not giving the exact place names, I'm penning this down 4 months after the tour, so cant recollect the places correctly, wasn't a perfectly planned trip also.
Rest of the pics are also in my photostream.

Hope you like my trip log.

Cheers

Happy Riding.